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| Turkey Springs #217 via Geronimo, AZ | | -
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| | Turkey Springs #217 via Geronimo, AZ | | | |
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Turkey Springs #217 via Geronimo, AZ
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| Hiking | 7.70 Miles |
2,596 AEG |
| | Hiking | 7.70 Miles | 4 Hrs 52 Mns | | 1.73 mph |
| 2,596 ft AEG | 25 Mns Break | 18 LBS Pack | | |
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| partners | | With the hotter temps Tracey wanted something cooler yet not too long a drive, making sure to avoid road construction issues and the like.
Having been 5 years, how about something on Pinal Peak? Seems like a reasonable alternative, but not so fast... what about the 3-4x weekly 9am-2pm closures on the US 60?
A quick check at AZ511.gov on Monday it stated a closure would take place on Wednesday and Thursday 6/19 & 6/20 so it appeared 6/18 would NOT have a closure, just slow through the construction zone. However, due to higher than normal frequency of accidents between Superior and Globe as of late, as well as noting US 60 was closed for some time on Monday due to an accident near Miami, I had a feeling there would be a last-minute change. And sure enough, taking an early look at AZ511 Tuesday morning there already was an accident close to Miami again, so although it did not show any closure for it, I wasn't about to trust it so on to the backup plan.
Ok, quick, what's the backup plan?
1. Somewhere N or E of Payson
2. On the Rim or thereabouts
3. Avoid the construction on the 260
4. Tracey was adamant it be an actual trail
When she mentioned something on the Highline? I scanned back in time to find although we had hiked numerous parts of the Highline more than once (plus Tracey had backpacked the whole thing) it had been 8 years since our one-and-only hike on the Turkey Springs Trail so we were more than due.
So, of course, due to all of the above, we had a later start than ideal. Although at a higher (cooler?) altitude I knew we'd be in the sun for much of the hike so I doubled my usual amount of fluids, albeit fully half being in a frozen state. As it turned out, I downed it all, so by neglecting to put more than one 12 oz bottle in the cooler that's all I had for the drive home.
Where were we?? Oh yeah, let's get to THE HIKE.
On the Control Road we only met one vehicle so we avoided much of the raised dust. Being a Tuesday I didn't expect anyone else at the Geronimo/Highline/AZT#26 TH and that was the case, so we expected a nice peaceful hike in-the-pines. Unfortunately that tranquility lasted less than 10 minutes, when shooting (from the camp?) began, continuing non-stop for the next 2+ hours. ](https://hikearizona.com/dex2/images/smilies/eusa_wall.gif "Brick wall")
Whatever, it wasn't far along the Geronimo Trail before I recalled wondering the same thing as 8 years ago... we seemed to be descending more than ascending. Rather than the continual descend/ascend/descend/ascend/descend, when will we only be going UP? Of course it never ends on Geronimo, only upon reaching the Turkey Springs Trail. And of course, this was where we left the 'official route' to follow what I believe to be the original trail right past the actual spring. (So yes, while we did a smidgen of cross-country, it raised no complaint from Tracey.)
For the most part the trails (Geronimo & Turkey Springs) were easy to follow, but there were times when we followed what appeared to be old fire-break 'roads' as well as taking a few shortcuts along game trails to avoid a needless descent only to ascend again.
Although we encountered the odd deadfall here and there, one ~100-yard section on #217 was littered with over a half-dozen, one after the other and already had obvious short detours. At the gate in the fence at the Gila/Coconino County border there was no need to open the gate as barely a few feet away all we had to do was step over the fence where a tree had fallen on the fence.
Along the upper part of Trail #217 it was getting decidedly 'warm' in the direct sun so just short of the 'upper 'end' we scanned for and located a nice lunch-and-break spot fitting our requirements... a reasonably flat rock to sit on, in the shade and with a nice breeze. And wonder of wonders, the shooting stopped almost the moment we sat down. So we were able to enjoy-the-moment, such as it was, for it appeared they may have only stopped shooting for lunch, coinciding with our 25-minute break. When our break was over, the shooting began again. Thinking back on it now, I don't recall how long it continued, only that it had stopped shortly before we got back to the TH.
For one final less-than-optimal part of the experience, moments before we were about to drive away from the TH, two vehicles leave from the camp... oh great! If we follow right away, who knows how long we'll have to eat-their-dust. All we could hope for is:
1. They turn East at the Control Road, OR
2. They DON'T take the FR3731 shortcut (and we DO) to avoid a double-creek crossing.
Unfortunately, it was:
3. They took the shortcut AND drove West.
So, to avoid the freshly-raised dust I drove slow enough until the last vehicle was far enough ahead the dust had time to settle or lightly waft away.
Thankfully the drive back home was uneventful... other than the batches of 80+ mph vehicles nose-to-tail jockeying to pass 'slower' (70+ mph) traffic. In no hurry ourselves, 65 was just right... as long as I watched my rearview mirror more than looking ahead. |
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